Clinical Sociology and Preventing Nuclear War

This paper outlines major kinds of social science research, especially sociological, that have relevance for nuclear war prevention and that would be relevant to a variety of clients. Research that has been done as well as work that could be done to help prevent nuclear war are noted. The research topics are related to policy suggestions about lessening the risks of nuclear war. The emphasis is on research relevant to a wide range of US clients and who are not operating in a very short time frame. Clinical sociological work relating to nuclear war, like any clinical work, is done with clients in mind. In the case of nuclear war, there are a great variety of possible clients. They include the American public, the US Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, congressional candidates, the Nuclear Freeze Movement, college students, the Soviet Institute for United States and Canadian Studies, and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research. We may be working for a client at the client's request or we may be self-appointed. We may be paid by one party to provide information and service to another party, as when foundations support an educational project. In recent years the number of possible clients in this area has grown significantly. Universities have always been a possible sponsor, since they provide students with concerns about avoiding war and support for research. Recently, student interest in international affairs and in avoiding nuclear war has grown greatly. University centers on peace and conflict studies are growing, vis, the Correspondence to: Louis Kriesberg, Department of Sociology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY